Statement of Beliefs

We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testament, to be the inspired Word of God (Exodus 24:4; Psalms 19:7-10; Luke 24:44; Matthew 5:17-18), without error in the original writings (Deuteronomy 4:1-2), the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of human beings, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith, life and conduct (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

We believe in one God (John 10:30), Creator of all things (Genesis 1:1), infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).

We believe Jesus Christ, without any change in His eternal deity (John 10:31-38; Hebrews 1:3), became man through conception of the Holy Spirit and virgin birth (Luke 1:31-35), that He died on a cross (Mark 15:23-26; John 19:16-18), a perfect and complete sacrifice, in our stead and for our sin according to the Scriptures (Hebrews 9:13-15; Ephesians 1:6-7) . He rose bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven where, at the right hand of God Almighty, He is our High Priest and Advocate (Hebrews 2:16-17).

We believe the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:13-14) and, during this age, to convict of sin and regenerate the sinner upon belief in Christ (John 16;7-12; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:11); at the time of conversion baptizing the believer into the one body of which Christ is the head (Galatians 3:26-28) and to indwell, guide, instruct, fill, and empower the believer for holy living and service (Romans 8:26-27 and 15:13; Proverbs 3:5-6).

We believe man was directly created by God in His own image (Genesis 1:27) but fell into sin (Genesis 3). The entire human race is, therefore, lost and only through repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10), faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:4-9), and new birth by the Holy Spirit, can salvation and spiritual life be obtained (Romans 8:13-14).

We believe the atoning death of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground of justification and salvation for all who believe (John 14:6; Acts 4:12), and only such as receive Jesus Christ by personal faith are born of the Holy Spirit and by Him have the assurance of being sealed unto redemption (Ephesians 4:30).

We believe in the return of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 4:1) and that hope has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer (2 Timothy 1:8-10).

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all the dead (Romans 8:11), the believer’s everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord (Romans 4:7-8) and the unbeliever’s judgment and everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46; Hebrews 10:29).

We believe the Church is composed of all such persons who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been born again by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the body of Christ, of which He is the head (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13).

We believe the universe is the purposeful creation of a personal, loving, and Almighty God.

We believe all human beings from the point of conception are made in the image of the Creator and are of infinite worth. We uphold the gender of individuals to be that of their divinely ordained birth gender, their biological sex at birth (God-ordained gender, not gender as chosen by man) and hold that one’s birth gender should not be altered or changed. We believe that the Bible clearly teaches homosexuality is a sin. Bowman Park Camp cannot condone, promote, or accommodate actions and life styles that stand in opposition to God’s nature and His will as contained in His unchanging Word.

We believe that water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are sacraments to be observed by the Church during this present age; however, they are not to be regarded as a means of salvation. (Matthew 28:19; Acts 18:8; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29) We believe in the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman.

We believe that all persons who have given their lives to Christ as Lord and Savior are to conscientiously live lives that are above reproach – so as to be compelling witnesses for the saving grace of Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 Peter 2:11)

We believe that the Christian faith is to be lived in the community of the church, where worship and witness are embodied through the spiritual gifts of its members.

We believe it is our privilege and responsibility to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people.